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June 23 - 27, 2008
Monday, June 23
Blood from a Stone?
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The federal receiver in charge of fixing medical care in California's state prisons says he needs $7 billion to do the job, but state officials say the money isn't there - the coffers are empty. With costs up, intake from tax dollars down and a possible $15 billion budget deficit, will California challenge a federal order?
- J. Clark Kelso, federal receiver who oversees the California state prison health care system
- Michael Villines, Republican State Assemblyman representing the 29th Assembly District
One More Lesson from the Midwest: California's Precarious Levees
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The conversation might feel familiar for Californians: warnings are issued by engineers and politicians that our state's delicate levee system, spread throughout the river deltas of Northern California, are vulnerable to same kind of disaster currently inundating a Midwest town. This time instead of one massive failure in New Orleans there have been multiple, smaller levee failures up and down the Mississippi River, from Wisconsin to Illinois and Missouri. California's levees are as old, if not older, than many of those currently giving way along the Mississippi, and the threat we're facing is possibly greater due to the possibility of earthquakes. Three years after Katrina, has California yet learned its levee lesson?
Remembering George Carlin
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Iconic stand-up comedian George Carlin died yesterday, ending a fifty-year career that redefined the art and greatly expanded its boundaries. Building on the legacy of Lenny Bruce, Carlin found absurdity in every arena of life, using a razor-sharp wit and deep love of language to both surprise and shock. His "seven dirty words" caused a sensation that resonated all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and he used his own personal demons as inspiration for an ever-evolving act that never looked backward. Untamed by age, Carlin became only more biting and sardonic with each passing decade. Patt talks to three comedians about the legacy of a man who snubbed pet peeves in favor of "major, psychotic hatreds."
- Lewis Black, comedian and author, most recently, of "Me of Little Faith"
- Marc Maron, comedian and former host on Air America Radio
- Larry Miller, comedian, actor and author
When Mom and Dad Share It All
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The mother-knows best mold paired with the bread-winning dad just isn't cutting it any more. But nowadays many parents also want to stray from the "involved" stay-at-home dad married to the stressed-out working mom. Instead the go-between has shifted toward parenting partners, equals and peers - Shared Care, as the Third Path Institute puts it. The message is simple: gender should not determine the division of labor at home. Both women and men can redesign their work to earn a living while actively - and equally - raising their children. A new work-family model if you will, and often at the expense of higher incomes. But how fair is this ideal in practice?
Tuesday, June 24
Gas Prices in LA
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So gas prices have been going up... but a lot higher and a lot faster here in LA than in the rest of the country - why is it about 50 cents more a gallon in the Southland than in the rest of the land?
Blame the Speculators? Oil Futures Markets & Price Inflation
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Every driver in Southern California has become an amateur analyst of commodities markets, as the futures price of a barrel of oil means more bad news on the way for prices at the gas pump. We all know that demand of oil has jumped exponentially from developing countries like India and China, hence making oil scarcer on the world market and pushing up prices. But is there a more obscure boogeyman that has worked, whether intentionally or not, to artificially inflate oil prices? Speculation in crude oil investments has nearly doubled since 2000, and focus is turning to the role of energy speculators in those record high energy prices. Can excessive speculation on oil futures be blamed and should Congress clamp down on the shadowy futures markets?
Two Wheels are Better than Four: Gas Prices Get LA Biking
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With gas prices approaching $5 per gallon, more and more people are taking a second look at two-wheel transport. Even a Toyota Prius hybrid can't match a scooter for fuel efficiency, with some models approaching 100 mpg. And think of all the people spending money on gas to drive to a spinning class? The logic of biking around town is now taking over too. Are you downsizing from four wheels to two? And if not, what's stopping you?
McCain and Obama in the Southland
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The campaigns are coming, the campaigns are coming! Senators John McCain and Barack Obama both descent on Southern California today, drumming up funds, popular support, and traffic jams.
- Frank Stoltze, KPCC Reporter covering Sen. McCain campaign's visit to Santa Barbara this morning
- Steven Cuevas, KPCC Reporter covering Sen. Obama's visit to Riverside this afternoon
- Steve Hymon, Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times. He writes the paper's "Bottleneck Blog."
Wednesday, June 25
California Attorney General Goes After Countrywide
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Like many of American homeowners, America's so–called # 1 housing lender is facing tough times these days. California Attorney General Jerry Brown announced a suit against Countrywide Financial Corp and two of its top executives today, accusing them of scheming to "mass produce loans for sale on the secondary market." The California–based lender stands is charged with deceptive advertising and the misleading practice of emphasizing low introductory loan rates while hiding risky or costly terms from consumers. Last year Countrywide made one of six U.S. mortgage loans, many of which are in default.
Proposition Blowout Bonanza
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There will be initiatives as far as the eye can see on the upcoming November ballot, and California voters will be required to make multiple tough decisions on vitally important issues to the state. From questions of criminal justice to the treatment of farm animals and high speed railroad, the 11 initiatives already confirmed for November touch on just about every element of public policy. While the deadline for signature–required initiatives is this Thursday, keep your hats on: the legislature can and probably will add a few propositions of their own, bringing the estimated total to 15. Here's your preliminary guide to an increasingly crowded and complicated Fall ballot.
Ask the Chief
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The LAPD's Chief Bill Bratton and LA Sheriff Lee Baca are in the midst of a very public debate over the root problems of violence in Los Angeles — Bratton says it's turf wars between gangs while the Sheriff says deep-seated racial schisms are to blame. All the while, the police department is trying new tactics to reduce gang violence, from stepping up collaborations with federal prosecutors to increasing penalties for gun ownership. Patt sits down with Police Chief Bill Bratton to understand what's going on with crime in Los Angeles.
Confrontation Clause Giving Convicted Killers a Second Chance?
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After claiming that he shot and killed his girlfriend out of self–defense, Dwayne Giles was convicted for murder — but only after the jury heard previous reports the girlfriend had made to police fearing for her life. Now the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the murder conviction and the defendant is once again up for trial. In the 6 to 3 vote, the court reaffirmed the rights of criminal defendants to confront witnesses against them, even in cases where the defendant is responsible for the witness' absence — and specific to this L.A. case, death. The ruling makes it more difficult to use out–of–court statements from absent witnesses, as such evidence violates the defendant's right to confront his accuser in court. But prosecutors of domestic violence call the ruling a "terrifying moment," further discouraging victims from going to authorities and making it harder to convict offenders.
Thursday, June 26
Metrolink Jury says "Guilty" on 11 Counts of First Degree Murder
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Exactly three years and five months after Juan Alvarez left his SUV on Metrolink tracks causing a major derailment and 11 deaths, today the jury found Alvarez guilty of 11 counts of first-degree murder and a single count of arson. The quick verdict after just a little more than a day of deliberations shows that the jurors believed the prosecutors' argument that Juan Alvarez was deliberately trying to cause a catastrophe. The jury also found the deaths to have special circumstances of multiple murders, leaving open potential of the death penalty.
Change Is In the Air: California's Landmark Global Warming Law
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Within the next 12 years Californians will have to drive cleaner cars, use less electricity, generate more of that electricity from renewable sources and live closer to work to achieve drastic reductions in greenhouse gases mandated under the state's aggressive global warming law. Today the California Air Resources Board unveiled its blueprint to implement AB32, the law supported by Gov. Schwarzenegger that calls for a reduction of greenhouse gases by 2020 to 1990 levels. To reach that target, regulators say oil and gas refineries must produce less-polluting fuels, utilities must generate a third of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and auto manufacturers must build cleaner-burning cars. Change is most definitely in the air.
Are California's Native Plants Doomed?
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It may sound weird, but plants actually can move--they move by spreading their seeds around. California is currently home to 2,300 native species of plants and move they must as climate change is expected to drive many of them northwards. However, a study conducted by ecologists and botanist indicates that temperatures and rainfall patterns are changing so fast many of California's plants won't be able to move fast enough, which could lead to their extinctions.
Does the Public Subsidize Private Jets?
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Fuel prices, security checks, long lines, delays, cranky flight attendants... aren't there enough reasons to be peeved with flying? Hold on: here's another one. Apparently, when you fly, part of all those nickel-and-dime fees you pay on your ticket price goes to subsidizing private jets. That's according to a study by Washington-based Essential Action and the Institute for Policy Studies. But small jet makers and operators refute the findings.
Veepstakes '08: The Case for Timothy Kaine
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A Christian conservative? Someone with experience in U.S. foreign policy? A woman? Even with the contenders for the top spot in the White House already set, the guessing game and fuss over the potential Vice Presidential candidates seems just as intense. After all, the stakes are high for the VP pick for both Senators McCain and Obama. The selection could help a candidate win over a swing state or even attract a whole subset of voters. Today we continue an on-going series taking a look at each of the potential VP picks for both candidates--and handicap how they could help (or hurt) their party's ticket. One of the top Democratic contenders is Timothy Kaine of Virginia.
- Tim Craig, Reporter for the Washington Post who covers Virginia politics
- Chris Lehane, Democratic political consultant and partner in the strategic communications firm Fabiani & Lehane
Supreme Court Overturns D.C.'s Hand Gun Ban
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In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court said for the first time that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own guns for lawful personal use. The ruling struck down the nation's strictest gun control law, the District of Columbia's 32-year ban on handgun ownership. The 5 to 4 decision, which fell along ideological lines, said that the government may impose some restrictions on gun ownership, however outright prohibitions are unconstitutional. The last time the Supreme Court examined Second Amendment rights was in 1939.
Friday, June 27
Obama and Clinton Lovefest in Unity
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"Unity is not only a beautiful place," Hilary said. "As we can see, it's a wonderful feeling –– isn't it?" she said beaming at the Democratic presidential nominee. "Hilary rocks!" chimed Obama. It was the first official campaign appearance by the pair since Obama clenched the nomination. And of all places to pledge party unity and Obama's spot in the White House, Unity, New Hampshire was all too fitting. But through all of the hugs, chumminess and sing–song flattery, could it be real? Or are the two new best friends just smiling through clenched teeth?
Dot Anything Goes: The End of .com, .org, .gov., etc?
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Domain names could get a whole lot more complicated, as the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers announces that it will soon lift restrictions on what comes after the dot. Will there be an expensive scramble to reserve domain names, as happened when the Internet was relatively new? We'll get the–dot–answer. - Andrew Brandt, contributing editor, PC World
On Fire with David Sedaris
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New York Times bestselling humorist David Sedaris finds himself engulfed in flames in his latest roundup of 22 essays. When sitting next to a sobbing passenger on an international flight, do you sympathize with him, resent him, or ask the flight attendant for a second sundae with caramel? After smoking for more than half of your life do you book it to Tokyo and go cold turkey — that is, amid clouds of smoke since Tokyo is one of the most smokingest cities in the world? In changing the title from "All the Beauty You Will Ever Need" to "When You Are Engulfed In Flames," Sedaris tackles oddball issues such as these in his newest book. David Sedaris will be at Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena Sunday at 5 p.m. The event is sold out, but he is still signing books. Sedaris will be at UCLA Live tomorrow, but the event is also sold out. He will be returning next year in April and tickets for that event are on sale to subscribers.
Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In
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She's a long–time friend to NPR (as a regular on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!"), a regular contributor to PBS (a regular contributor to "Life & Times") and a frequent player on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion." Paula Poundstone is clearly enamored with all things in the world of public media, and we happen to enjoy her just as much. Paula is back playing her first big shows in Southern California in years, and she joins Patt to riff on politics and the state of the world in general. Paula Poundstone's upcoming performances in Southern California:
The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, Thursday, July 10th @ 8pm; The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, Friday, July 11th @ 8pm; The Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 12th @ 8pm
SAG – AFTRA talks Split
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The long, drawn–out battle is making Hollywood look more like the Wild West these days, more recently pitting A–listers and other top guns in entertainment against each other. SAG enlisted 67 actors (the likes of which include Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen) to back its campaign against the ratification of AFTRA's tentative pact with the studios and networks. But this comes right after Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey and over 100 other guild members voiced their support of AFTRA's contract, urging members to vote 'yes' on the ratification. Meanwhile, George Clooney says we should all just try to get along. What are the issues splitting these sister unions in this lengthy Hollywood saga? Patt sits down with leaders and actors from both sides. - Alex Ben Block, senior columnist for Hollywood Today, on the web at hollywoodtoday.net
- Anne–Marie Johnson, actor and member of the National Board for SAG. She appeared in a SAG video. She is well–known for portraying Althea Tibbs on the NBC and CBS television series "In the Heat of the Night."
- Jamie Cromwell is an American film and television actor. He has been nominated for an Oscar for his work in "Babe," two Emmy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career.
- Ed Asner, actor best known for his character Lou Grant, who was first introduced on the "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1970. When that show ended, he continued to start as that character on his own show, "Lou Grant."
- Tess Harper, actress — her film feature film was "Tender Mercies," where she played Robert Duvall's younger wife. Her other films include "Silkwood" and "Crimes of the Heart." She is a member of both AFTRA and SAG.
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